Page 1 of 1 In response to substantial rule changes, Lola introduced two closely related sports prototypes at the start of the 1972 season; the T280 and T290 aimed at the two- and three-litre classes respectively. Especially the T290 proved very popular with close to three dozen examples built and sold. On the track, it was not quite as successful as its immediate predecessor, so the car was further developed ahead of the 1973 season.

Dubbed the T292, the new-for-1973 Lola was but a subtle evolution of the existing two-litre car. The aluminium monocoque chassis, designed by Bob Marston with the help of youngsters Patrick Head and John Barnard, was left virtually unchanged. The only noticeable difference was the relocation of the rear disc brakes from the inside the wheels to either side of the gearbox. This to reduce the unsprung weight and improve the car's handling.

Much of the work over the winter had in fact been focused on the bodywork and aerodynamics, which had been very straightforward on the T290. For 1973, a longer, sharper nose was created and more importantly a raised, full-width rear wing was added to replace the modest canard fitted on the tail the previous year. As before, the T292 was designed to accept a variety of four cylinder engines, and at least one was fitted with a three-litre, Cosworth DFV V8.

For the second year running, the two-litre Lola proved a commercial success and over two dozen were built and sold, while several T290s were updated with T292 bodywork. On the track, the 1973 machine also proved a success. Chris Craft used a Cosworth BDG exampled machine to win the European Two-Litre Sports Car championship and Lola ended the year as constructor's champion.

Over the winter, the T292 morphed into the T294 but this evolution was not sufficient to take on the works supported, Renault-engined Alpines. Their dominance was such that the championship was cancelled in 1975. Lola resumed the T29* production in 1976 and by the end of the decade the British manufacturer had produced over 100 examples. None of them were quite so successful as the T292. Page 1 of 1